Abby was a tiny pup who appeared to be in great pain when her owner surrendered her to the shelter. She looked like a candidate for Medical Foster care. She was only 8 weeks old and looked lost in the box she came in. Abby was trembling with fear as she looked around and saw nothing familiar to her.
Her tiny face was covered with nasty looking blisters caused by an uncommon skin disease. Abby had a strong drive to survive but she tried to hide from the volunteers due the fear that consumed her. One of the volunteers wouldn’t give up on her.
Her name was Dina Ho and she spent as much time with Abby as she could. Dina noticed that even though Abby tried to hide herself in her pillows, she would wag her tail vigorously whenever she called out Abby’s name. It was then that Dina decided to be Abby’s foster mom.
Medical Foster Care
It was obvious that Abby would need the specialized attention offered only by medical foster care. Abby’s multiple special needs demanded more time and attention than a usual foster home could provide. Dina knew that Abby was worth the extra effort and decided to foster her.
Dogs that qualify for Medical Foster Care all need more specialized care dictated by their medical needs. Some of those needs include:
- restricted exercise or physical therapy
- daily medication
- medicated baths or other skin treatments
- bandage changes
The average length of stay for a Medical Foster Care dog is 2-4 weeks. The typical duties for Medical Care Foster parents are as follows.
- the foster dog lots of tender loving care in a safe and warm environment
- Closely adhering to the medical team’s instructions on how to treat the dog’s medical conditions, administering all treatments and medications as prescribed
- Making sure the Medical Foster Care dog is taken to all medical follow up appointments
Abby’s Rare Skin Disease
For the next two weeks, Dina devoted a lot of her time caring for the poor pooch. But it seemed that no matter what she did, Abby wasn’t getting any better. The pup was constantly in pain and avoided any form of physical contact. Her skin was too sensitive.
They kept going to several doctors trying to find what was wrong with her. Thankfully, one vet finally discovered that she had a rare skin disease. They were now able to provide her with the right treatment.
Abby started to get better. She was no longer in constant pain and has started to come out of her shell. With her discomfort gone, she became more active and playful. She even snuggled with Dina a lot more.
Abby has come a long way since Dina took her home. her skin is so much better and her character has fully formed. In time, she will be put up for adoption. Hopefully, she finds a family that will love her as much as her foster mom does.
Source: The Dodo via Youtube